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In this original interview, Anthony Iton, director of the Alameda County Department of Public Health, talks about the extraordinary health of recent Latino immigrants and what we can all learn from them, the importance of hope, the power of community organizing, and why it's in all our best interest to tackle inequities sooner rather than later.

In this review of data from the previous decade relating social ties to physical health, Berkman considers 1) what are the functions of social networks and social support, and what do they provide for people, and 2) what are the potential biologic pathways that link social networks to morbidity and mortality. This is a follow-up article to Berkman and Leonard Syme’s original study of Alameda County residents published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 1979.

This article is only available online through purchase or subscription.

Recent Mexican immigrants, though typically poorer, tend to be healthier than the average American. But the longer they live here, the worse their relative health becomes, even as their economic status improves. Their children are especially at risk – for obesity, heart disease, and mental illness. What is it about new immigrant communities that shields people from poor health, And what erodes this protective shield over time? How can we all learn and benefit from this knowledge?

Recent Mexican immigrants, though typically poorer, tend to be healthier than the average American. But the longer they live here, the worse their relative health becomes, even as their economic status improves. Their children are especially at risk – for obesity, heart disease, and mental illness. What is it about new immigrant communities that shields people from poor health, And what erodes this protective shield over time? How can we all learn and benefit from this knowledge?

A National Academy of Sciences report calling for more programs to improve educational outcomes among the Hispanic population corresponds with the release of new data from the Centers for Disease Control about Latino health. The longer Latinos are here, the worse their health becomes. Lower educational attainment appears to be one reason.

With Americans commuting longer, working longer and often living with fewer people or by themselves, social isolation is on the rise. As hard as it may be to believe, one in four Americans now say there is no one in their lives with whom they can discuss important matters. This isolation, combined with stress, takes a toll on health. People who are socially isolated are at greater risk for infections diseases, diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. In order to improve health communities must look beyond health care toward what is breaking down in the community: social support, friendship networks, family ties.

National health records show that Latina women have significantly lower rates of premature and underweight births compared to Americans from other racial/ethnic groups - even than individuals wealthier than them. Cabrera looks at the story of this "Latino epidemiological paradox," and the hypothesis that Latino culture plays a major role in the health advantage.

Two researchers present findings related to the "Latino paradox," the fact that new Latino immigrants, despite having on average lower incomes and highly stressful lives, suffer lower rates of chronic and mental illness than the average native-born American.

REPORT from PolicyLink and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Washington, DC, May 2004

This brief examines the ways in which the social, economic, and physical environments of Latino immigrant communities affect health and contribute to health disparities. The first part discusses the health of Latino immigrants in general and how health status is influenced by community factors related to immigrant status. The next part describes key immigration trends and explores some of the defining characteristics of this population, including issues unique to immigrant communities, such as language, legal status, settlement patterns, and community development issues. The third part discusses the importance of community approaches to immigrant health and describes several successful community efforts that build on the assets of Latino immigrant communities in order to improve health. Finally, we offer a number of policy recommendations designed to improve health and reduce disparities for Latino immigrants by strengthening the communities in which they live.

Take Back Your Time is a campaign to pass The Minimum Leave Protection, Family Bonding and Personal Well-Being Act of 2007. This amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act would guarantee that anyone who's worked at a job for a year would get three weeks of vacation. On the site, you can download a handbook and other resources for mobilizing around this goal.

A key study in identification of the "Hispanic/ Latino paradox," showing that while Latinos in the Southwest of the U.S. had socio-economic profiles similar to African-American populations, who generally suffered poorer health, they had health profiles similar to more affluent white populations.

The Praxis Project is a national, nonprofit organization that builds partnerships with local groups to influence policymaking to address the underlying, systemic causes of community problems. Committed to closing the health gap facing communities of color, they forge alliances for building healthy communities. Praxis trains its partner organizations and provides research, technical assistance and financial support to tackle issues impacting the well being of communities. Their site contains an information resource center with additional resources and reports on equity and social justice.

Wealth and health are tightly linked in the United States. As immigrants remain in the country, as they "become American," their socioeconomic status becomes increasingly relevant to their health status. For those who experience discrimination, low wages, unstable employment, and other stressors, this relationship may erode the health advantage they enjoyed upon arrival in the country.

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DID YOU KNOW:

The U.S. loses over $1 trillion every year in work productivity due to chronic illness. (Milken Institute, 2007)